P4ITS is a thematic network gathering contracting authorities experienced or planning to shortly embark on deploying Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (C-ITS), and willing to improve the market roll-out of innovative transport systems and services through Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI).

The network will enable exploring common issues and themes with counterparts from different countries, with a view to developing a more concerted approach for deploying C-ITS in Europe.

1. Create a European network dedicated to Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) for Cooperative ITS (C-ITS)

2. Provide the conditions for mutual learning and training for the network members

3. Set up an external consultation process

4. Raise awareness about the topic of PPI

5. Propose key recommendations for PPI in C-ITS

6. Consolidate the P4ITS project into a sustainable longer-term network

Network activities

The exchange of experience is at the core of the P4ITS network. The added value from participating in P4ITS comes from a true exchange between practitioners sharing first-hand experience on real cases and current practices, by analysing risks and barriers encountered vs. solutions and enablers adopted in different countries and/or sectors in order to evaluate the transferability of approaches.

P4ITS will seek to provide recommendations on a set of key discussion topics to address the main challenge of bringing innovation into ITS products and services through public procurement.

The key network topics will cover aspects such as Intellectual Property Rights, methods and procedures to Public Procurement of Innovation, as well as ITS related risks and opportunities.

External consultation

P4ITS has engaged in a consultation with external stakeholder experienced with public procurement to perform a reality-check of the first network outcomes and receive inputs from external parties. The inputs will come from stakeholders experienced with public procurement. For more details please visit the dedicate page.

Raising awareness

The P4ITS network aims to publish the proceedings of its activities, to highlight outside the network that the questions discussed are of importance, and to invite new partners to join the network. Raising awareness for PPI as one approach (with areas of application, but also limitations) in a bundle of instruments is an important objective of the network. The message delivered will also mention the added value of PPI and the risks for the procurers when using this approach.

Network continuation

The work of P4ITS will pave the way to an aligned approach of PPI in the C-ITS sector. The network will allow members and external participants to interact and identify common needs and potentially the creation of a joint PPI partnership for C-ITS.

Network consortium

The consortium is built around public and private stakeholders (procurers, road operators, etc.) from 10 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Spain and Sweden.

From the public side, all levels are represented: federal / national administrations or agencies, regional authorities and city councils.

The partners are experienced in different fields of ITS as well as in public innovation and public procurement, and are committed to deploying cooperative ITS services.